Variable-speed mechanism.



G. RICHARDS.

VARIABLE SPEED MBGHAIH-SM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I3, 1912.

1,042,720. Patented. oct-.29,1912l 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

j. l INH G.RICHARDS.

Y VARIABLE SPEED MEGHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 13, 1912.

Patented 0013.29, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A usaran srkrnserkrnnr orrron.

GEORGE RICHARDS, OF SYDENHAM, LO'NDON, ENGLAND.

i* VARIABLE-SPEED MCHANISM.

To all whom. t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE RrcHARDs, a citizen of the United States of smerica, re-

siding at Slvdenham, London, England, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in `i/'ariable-Speed Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention is for improvements in or relating to variable speed mechanism of the type wherein a plurality of gripping disks are held yieldingly together, and cooperate with one or more driving disks which enter between the elements of each pair of gripping disks, the speed being varied by increasing or decreasing the depth of engagement. In such mechanisms the pair of gripping disks is usually disposed upon a shaft that is movable in a direction transverse to its aXis and on each side of such shaft driving and driven shafts are disposed carrying driving and driven disks which enter between the elements of the pair of gripping disks. Thus by moving the central shaft to one side or the other, the driving disk on one shaft may be made to enter more deeply between the gripping disks, while the driven disk is correspondingly withdrawn and the speed is varied accordingly.

The object of the present invention is to provide a better yielding-control for the gripping disks than that 4usually employed, such usual control taking the form of spiral springs placed around the shaft carrying the gripping disks.

The use of spiral springs applied at the center of the disks is found in practice to be only suitable forl transmitting comparatively small powers and the object of the present invention is to provide a device that will transmit considerable horse-power which necessitates a different arrangement of spring-control and the employment of 'a plurality of pairs of gripping disks instead of only one such as has heretofore been employed.

In the accompanying drawings z-Figure` l shows diagrammatically a sect-ion through two sets of gripping disks and coperating driving and driven disks constructed according to onemethod of carrying out this invention; Fig. 2 shows the same parts in a` Specification of etters Patent.

rammen oct. se, isis.

Application led May 13, wb2. Serial No. 696,94f0.

Fig. 4 on the line 5-.-5; Fig. 6 is a plan 0f a modified form of gripping disk which aiso i falls within the scope of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a section through the same showing a special arrangement of the springs relatively thereto.

Like letters indicate like parts thronghout the drawings.

Thedriving shaft A is preferabiy hexagonal and has fast upon it a series of beveled driving disks A1. A. transmission shaft B is mounted in swinging arms B1 pivoted at B2 to the casing C of the'mechanism. Mounted loose on the shaft B is a series of pairs of gripping disks whereof the elements of each pair. are designated as B2, B3 respectively. These disks are beveled on their inner faces, that is the faces which are toward each other lin each `pair, and between the outer elements of adjacent pairs of springs B4 are mounted. Atthe ends of the shaft B disks B5 are provided which take the thrust of the springs of the outer elements of the last pairs of disks. rFliese springs are mounted eccentric to the shaft and conveniently lare near to the peripheries of the gripping disks. @n that side of the shaft B remote from the shaft A is a driven shaft D. rlhis conveniently is hexagonal and has mounted fast upon it `beveled driven disks D1. rlhe disks A1, B1 are so spaced that they lie oppositeand enter between the elements of the pairs of gripping disks so that power is transmitted from the shaft A to the disks BZBQ' by the frictional engagement of the disks A1 therewith and thence to the shaft D by the frictional engagement of the disks B2, B3 with the disks D1. Y

When the shaft B is in the position shown in Fig. l so that the disks A1 and D1 enter equal depths in between the disks B2, B3, the speed of the shaft D is equal to that of theshaft A., but if thev shaft B is moved' to the left as shown in Fig. 2, the speed of the shaft` D,wil1 be less than that of the shaft A as the disks 'A1 now engage the outer peripheries of the disks B2, B3, whereas the disks D1 are in deep engagement' with the gripping disks. The movement of the shaft B is easily effected by the swinging arms B1 which may be controlled in any convenient manner, for instance by a worm E engaging a toothed sector E1 on one of the arms and rotated by a pulley F on a spindle F1 whereon the worm E is mounted,

the pulley being driven by a rope F2 to which power maybe applied in any desired mtlnlle'. i I

lt will be seen that the springs Bt being near the peripheries of the gripping disks,

can be made to give any required pressure at the .edges according to the number of springs employed and the strength ot the same, and splaying ci the gripping disks on one side during rotation when the shaft B is out of the central position, as shown ine Fig. 2; an easy and steady drive can thus be obtained throughout the mechanism for all speeds, and considerable power can be transmitted as every additional pair ot gripping members which is added with its coperating parts increases the transmission power oit the mechanism. A still better edect, however, is obtained by using the special construction and arrangement of springs shown in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein the strength of the springs is graded so that those nearest the center are stronger than those toward the periphery. For instance, the spring Gr may be pressed dat at say a pressure of tive pounds, the spring G1 at ten pounds, and the spring G2 at twenty pounds. These degrees of strength are of course only given by way ot example as they can obviously be varied according to requirements. lt is further found in practice that the only satisfactory l form of spring is one of the volute type as is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 as this is less likely to break than an ordinary spiral spring which it is diihcult-to get to stand the rapi compression and expansion due to running at high speed; moreover, the volute spring can be accommodated in a smaller space. 'lhe question of space is also an important one as otherwise a large number of pairs of gripping disks becomes unwieldy. For this purpose the gripping disks H (Figs. 6 and- 7) are made liollowed or dished at lll and projections H2 are cast on them to carry the springs. rlhe disks may be strengthened by webs H3 and conveniently four springs are disposed between each pair of webs. ln the drawings the projections H2 in alternate sections of the disk as divided up by the webs, are shown to be small as compared with those in the other sections, this arrangement being intended to permit the volute springs in one section to have their small ends bearing against the diskon the small studs and in the others to have their large ends against the disk.

yet will readily yield to permit thel waar/ao llt will be seen that by grading the springs so that the strongest ones are nearest the center, all the springs are made to do their proper amount ot work. lt all the springs were of the same strength, the resistance otfered byone near the center wouldvbe small as compared -with one near the periphery when the plate was so tilted by splaying the elements of the lpair that the one near the periphery was collapsed say vto halt im original length, as the one near the center would be collapsed much less; whereas by grading the springs the one near the center, which we will suppose is collapsed oneeighth olan inch,.may be made to oder the saine degree of resistance as the one at the outer periphery, which we will suppose is collapsed halt an inch, so that all the springs are doing their proper amount of work and enable vthe gripping members to maintain a proper hold upon the driving and driven members.

What ll claim as my invention and, desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. ln a variable speed mechanism, the

combination of a transmission shalt, a pair or gripping disks thereon, a plurality of springs of diderent strengths engaging said gripping disks at did'erent distances from the center of the latter, said springs decreasing in strength as their distance from the disks centers increases, a drive vdisk engaging between said, gripping disks, a driven disk engaging'between said gripping disks,

and means tor varying the extent of such engagement between said several disks.

2. ln a variablespeed mechanism, the

combination of a transmission shaft, `a pair ot gripping ,disks thereon, a `plurality oit springs of diderent strengths engaging said gripping the center of the latter for yieldingly maintaining said disks in engagemenh said springs decreasing instrength as their distance Jfrom the disks centers increases, a drive disk extending between said gripping disks, a driven disk extending between said gripping disks, and means itor ysh-itingsaid transmission shaft relativeto said drive and driven disks.

In testimony whereof l have signed name to this specilication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, snonen nioiianns. Witnesses: y

A. M. HAYWARD, HARRY S. Srroen.

disks at diferent distances itrornA 

